Locking device.



N0. 709,0!0. Patented Sept. I6, 1902.

J. W. GONGE.

LOCKING DEVICE.

' \Application filed July 3, 1901. (No Model.) 2 SheetsShe|at L Ezlgml.

III

INVENTOH I 7 77 M We A TTOHNEYS WITNESSES No. 709,010. Patented Sept; [6, I902.

.1. w. GONCE.

LOCKING DEVICE.

gApplication filed July 8, 1901.) (No MudeI.) 2 Sheets-Shack 2.

INVENTOH Zr'ance my 2? A 770mm rs UNITED *rnrns JOHN WISDOM GONCE, OF KINDERHOOK, ALABAMA.

LOCKING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 709,010, dated September 16, 1902.

3 Application filed July 3, 1901. Serial No. 66,994. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern;

Be it known that-I, JOHN WISDOM GONCE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Kinderhook, in the county of Jackson and State of Alabama, have invented a new and Improved Locking Device, of,which the fol-- lowing is afull, clear, and exact description. This invention relates to improvements in what is termed ball-and-socket locking devices that may be employed for a variety of purposes-such, for instance, as fofii 'i clebl EtkeS, shaft-couplings, car-couplin'gg' driving-g'ear for mowers, locks, &c. and the object is to provide a device of this character that shall be simple in construction and that may be quickly and easily operated.

I will describe a locking device embodying my invention and then point out the novel features in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a looking device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a section on the line to w of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a sectional front view of a modified form of the device embraced in the invention. Fig. 5 is a sectional side view thereof. Fig. 6 is a sectional side view showing another modification, in which the invention is applied to a car-coupling. Fig. 7 is a plan View thereof.

Referring first to the construction of the device as shown in Figs. 1,2, and 3 and which is arranged for connection with the brake mechanism of a vehicle, 1 designates the keeper,- having an opening or passage 2 through it and an opening 3 in the top wall. At one side of the opening 3 is a runway 4, which is inclined downward from the outer end to the opening, and at the opposite side is an abutment 5, which is also inclined downward and inward to the opening in the upper surface of the keeper, thus forminga ball-socket, the side or bottom of which is cut through by the opening or passage 2, which is preferably about half the diameter of the ball, thus leaving the ball a bearing in its socket at each side. This keeper is designed to be attached to a fixed portion of a wagon or vehicle. As here shown it is connected to a cross-beam 6.

Movable in the opening 2 is a rack member comprising a plate 7, on the upper surface of which is a rack 8, the notches in which are semicircular to embrace about one-half the circumference of the locking-ball 9. The rack member is designed to be connected to the brake mechanism in any suitable manner. I have here shown for this purpose a section of a link 10, attached to the end of said rack member, which is moved inward and outward by means of a lever 11, engaging at its lower end with the rack member and fulcrumed on a bracket 12, attached to the beam 6. In the operation of this device as the upper end of the lever 11 is drawn back or turned to the left when the partsare in the position indicated in Fig.1 the ball 9 will be forced upon or along theincline of the runway 4 until sufficient pressure is brought upon the brake mechanism. When one of the notches in the rack comes underneath the opening 3, the ball will roll therein, so that upon slacking up slightly on the lever 11 the rack member will move sufficiently outward again or toward the brake mechanism to engage the ball against the abutment 5, thus preventing any further movement. When it is desired to release the brake, the lever is to be given a quick motion to the left, which will cause the ball 9 to ride upon the incline of the runway, as before mentioned, and then a quick forward or movement to the right of the lever will move the rack member outward.

In Figs. 4e and 5 I have shown a device also applicable for brake mechanism; but in this modification the rack 13 is made circular and mounted on a disk 14, and attached to the disk is an operating crank handle or lever 15. A portion of the rack 13 passes through a recess or slot formed in the lower portion or socket of the fixed keeper 16, which has also an inclined runway 17 and an abutment 18. The disk 14 is mountedon a shaft 19, with which the brake mechanism may have connection, and this shaft has a bearing in a hanger 20 on the fixed keeperlG. The operation of this device is the same as before describedthat is, the ball 21 will be forced upward upon the incline 17 when the rack is turned in one direction, it of course leaving one of the semicircular notches when itpasses upon the incline and then falling into another, which coincides with the opening between the runway and the abutment.

In Figs. 6 and '7 I have shown the invention as applied to a car-coupling, and in which 22 indicates a coupler-head having a longitudinal opening 23 for receiving the rack member 24. Extending upward and at a rearward incline through the top wall of the coupler-head 21 and from the opening 23 is an opening 25 to receive the locking-ball 26. In this example of my device I have shown a mechanical means for raising the ball and holding it in the opening 25 when the rack member is to be drawn outward. This means consists ofaspringyieldingarm 27, connected at its upper end to a rock-shaft 28, journaled on the upper side of the coupling-head, the said arm 27 passing downward through aslot in the upper wall of the coupler-head and engaging with the ball. It will be noted that the notches or openings in the rack in this example are somewhat wider than the diameter of the ball, so that the arm 27 may pass therein. The arm is longitudinally curved, so as to engage substantially against the lower side of the ball, as indicated in Fig. 6. On one end of the shaft 28 is an operating-handle 29. By swinging this operating-handle upward it is obvions that the arm 27 will move the ball 26 into the opening 25, so that the rack member can be removed. It may be here stated, however, that as the end of the rack member is beveled or inclined the said end when the rack member is entered into the opening 23 will force the ball upward until one of the notches of the rack comes in line therewith, when the ball will fall therein.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a locking device, a stationary member having an inclined runway, an abutment opposite the runway and having an inclined upper surface, the said stationary member also having an opening extending underneath said runway and abutment, there being a space between the runway and abutment, a locking-ball movable into the stationary member, and a rack member having concaved notches to receive the ball, substantially as specified.

2. In a-locking device, a keeper having an inclined runway and an abutment spaced from and opposite the runway, a locking-ball movable into the keeper, and arack member, the adjacent sides of teeth thereof being curved to engage closely against the ball, substantially as specified.

3. In a locking device, a fixed keeper having an inclined runway, a-rack member movable in said keeper on a substantially horizontal plane, a ball in said fixed portion 01' member for engaging with the rack, and lifting device carried by the fixed portion for raising the ball onto the runway, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN WISDOM GONOE.

Witnesses:

O. W. TAYLOR, J. L. GoNcE. 

